Brendon Austin didn’t see this coming. Not when his junior year was just getting underway in 2009, and not even when Colorado came calling with the first scholarship offer.

As it turned out, Austin, a 6-foot-5, 263-pound offensive lineman, would commit to Stanford to wind down his recruitment. Before doing so, though, he would field offers from schools such as Notre Dame, UCLA, Utah, Wisconsin, California and Arizona.

He had become the consensus top recruit in the state.

“In no way was I expecting this,” Austin, a three-year starter, said this week between workouts in Chaparral High School’s weight room.

But Chaparral coach John Vogt said he first caught a glimpse of Austin’s potential when he was a sophomore playing opposite Jack Harris, who will be a redshirt freshman at CU this season.

“At that time, we knew he’d be a big-time player,” Vogt said.

Chaparral’s football offices soon had a revolving door.

Offensive tackles typically benefit from recruiters coming to campus to look at skill positions. In Austin’s case, he has helped his teammates get seen.

“He’s definitely showing a new side to the offensive line,” tight end J.D. Henry said.

“He’s not just a big guy,” quarterback Andrew Loudenback said. “He’s athletic. He understands the game of football. He knows the protections, he’s a smart guy, he’s a great leader.”

Austin was a captain as a junior, a testament to his leadership. He has also become a mentor to junior tackle Shane Callahan — just as Harris was to Austin.

Austin committed to Stanford in May, just as his junior year was officially coming to a close.

“I was really ready,” Austin said. “I went to Stanford and had a great time. I knew. I mean, I wanted to get it over early, but I was also ready to do it.”

Stanford is one of the top research institutions in the country, and academic requirements are certainly steeper.

“They recruit a top-notch kid as well as athlete, and he really fits that mold,” Vogt said. “He had a lot of opportunities to go to other schools, including Notre Dame, but the fit for him at Stanford is really good.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.